Approximately $3.5 million in developer fees and project savings is expected to mature at the end of June 2013 in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District and must be used for construction or facilities improvements within the next five years. The Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees heard a report on district facilities at the regular meeting on May 14 and the steps that have been taken so far to prepare to use those funds once they are available so that they are not “lost.”
Superintendent Marc Malone reported that the District Facilities Committee visited and walked every land asset and facility owned by the district. The committee met regularly and reviewed the identified potential projects at the facilities, then prioritized them for the board’s review.
The committee came up with nine different construction and renovation projects, leaving a $500,000 cushion based on current costs of construction as provided by the state architect. Malone provided the costs per square foot of each different type of facility.
Malone also fielded questions from the board about the projects, as well as questions about the Brady Road property, noting that there will likely be some legal entanglements the district will have to go through with it.
Student representative Paul Perrone served as chairman for the meeting, taking the gavel in hand, as it was the last for his “term.” Each of the trustees praised Perrone for his service on the board.
“We’re probably going to see the name of Paul Perrone move on. He may have a doctorate someday, he may be in politics one day,” said trustee Mike Tozzi. “Whatever he does, he’ll be successful.”
Tozzi later added that he thinks that someday he’ll be voting for Perrone for President. Trustee Diane Gilbert stated how impressed she was with Perrone and remarks he made to younger students at a special GATE dinner she attended. She added that he does everything with grace and class. Superintendent Malone said that Perrone is an exceptional young man and that they have high expectations for him, and Perrone also has high expectations for himself. The new student representative to the board was also named at the meeting. Madison Lane will assume the role for the 2012-2013 school year.
In business, the trustees voted unanimously to approve the tentative agreement for the 2012-2013 year between the district and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) chapter #830.
Also, in reports, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Barbara Shook provided a first reading on Transitional Kindergarten and said that the state legislature made it clear that the pre-kindergarten program is a mandate for school districts. However, while it is strongly encouraged, it is not mandated for parents to enroll their children in Transitional Kindergarten.
The next regular meeting of the OJUSD Board of Trustees will have a public hearing and the approval of the 2012-2013 budget on the agenda. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 13 at the Oakdale City Council Chambers, 277 N. Second Ave.
